Unit partition and wall construction.



R. 0. SMITH.

UNIT PARTITION AND WALL consmucnon.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I9i3.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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R. C. SMITH.

UNIT PARTITION AND WALL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I913.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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R. C. SMITH. UNIT PARTITION AND WALL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1913.

1,176,692. r Patented Mar. 21,1916.

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UNIT PARTITION AND WALL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1913.

\ 1,176,692. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

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8 wue ntoz 12a Znurrz csmz'zil. M 35gb. floznu le z y TED sTA'rEs PATENRAYBUBN CLARK SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGEW. SMITH & CO. INC., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

UNIT PARTITION ANI) WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Application died April 6, 1918. Serial No. 759,213.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYBURN CLARK SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have in vented new and useful Improvements in UnitPartition and Wall Construction, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a unit partition construction, and has for itsobject to pro-' vide a partition which is equally adapted for theconstruction of division walls of rooms, walls of booths, and for othertemporary structures, and may be employed for various purposes that willsuggest themselves to persons skilled in this line of work.

The partition hasl many novel features, among which may be' mentionedportability due to its construction of unit sections, each complete initself with the necessary fastening devices permanently secured thereon.These several units comprise posts or pilasters, base sections, panels,mid-rail sections, cornice sections, and when desired sash sections.Also included in the unit sections are doors, door frames, and ceilingmembers. The units areof-such size as to be easily transportable, andall sections of like kind are made in standard size, and areinterchangeable, making possible the easy increase or reduction in sizeof structures built of these units.

The partition is also sound and dustproof, This is accomplished byforming on the edges orconnecting parts of the several unitsinterchanging tongue and groove joints, and lining these joints withfelt or like material; making the window sash double with an air spacebetween the glass, and by building up the panels with a central cellularor honey-comb construction.

When the partition is employed to form a closed ro m or booth with aceiling, vent-ilation is obtained by hinging one or more .loose panelsor sashes forming a part of said ceiling, so that said hinged membersmay be raised and lowered as desired.

Besides the several features of invention herein specifically mentionedother advantages will be brought out in the course of the descriptionand suggested to those skilled in the art, the particular features ofthe invention being pointed out in the accompanying claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

/ In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 1s a perspectiveviewillustrating clearly the panel construction arranged to form a booth orroom with a ceiling. Fi 2 is a perspective view of a corner post unitviewed from the inner side. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of theintermediate posts which are placed between the corner posts. Fig. 4 1sa perspective view of a complete panel or Section which extends betweentwo of the posts, said panel or section being made up of several units.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same panel, the unit members ofwhich are shown separated. Fig. 6 is avertical sectional view on theline --6, Fi 1, looking in the direction indicated by the or rows. Fig.7 is a horizontal sectional view on the irregular line 7-7, Fig. 1. Fig.8 is a vertical sectional view through a door and its frame on the line88, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the ceiling.FigflO is a sectional view on the line 1111 Fig. 9, showing a hingedsash which may be raised for ventilation purposes. Fig. 11 is a sideelevation partly broken away illustrating the preferred form of panelwhich may constitute a feature of the invention. This view is upon anenlarged scale. Fig. 12 is a vertical section showing a portion of theparts which are illustrated in Fig. 6, and showing details of thearrangement for securing the sash. This view is upon an enlarged scale.Fig. 13 is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale -showing-a part ofthe lower portion of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Fig. 1, 20 are the cornerposts or pilasters,

and 21 are the intermediate posts, between which posts are panels orpartition sections 22, made up of the following parts: the base unit 23.cornice unit 24.. and an intermediate panel 25, which may extend frombase to cornice if desired. or if preferred this space may be divided bya mid-rail unit 26. and the upper and lower divisions thereof filled mewith panels 25, or a sash 27 may be placed is L-shaped in cross section,and made of a number of narrow vertical strips of wood 30 glued orotherwise securely fastened together, and covered on their inner andouter faces with a laminated veneer 31. These strips 30 may extend thefull length of the post, or be made of a number of shorter pieces. Postsconstructed with a core of small strips of wood covered by veneering arecheaper and stronger than when made of a single piece. The small strips,of which the posts are made, when fastened together in the manner shown,prevent springing and twisting of the post, and may be made of a cheapwood, which being covered by laminated veneer the outer layer of whichmay be of an expensive or rare wood, presents an ornamental andattractive post, which may be put up at a minimum of cost. Verticallythrough the center of the post passes an opening 32, for electric wires.At the bottom of the posts are attached blocks 33 to form an ornamentalbase, which is finished with a scribe molding 34 that rests upon thefloor. At the top of the post or pilaster, both on its inner and outersides, are moldings 35, which form a capital for the post, and over thespreading upper edges of these moldings are blocks 36 which cover theends of the post and the upper edges of the moldings. Extending from thebottom to the top of the post or pilaster in each edge, where'it adjoinsthe panel sections 22, is a groove 37, and seated in the bottom of thisgroove opposite the base 23, cornice 24, and mid-rail 26, are plates 38having vertically elongated slots 39 therein to receive fasteningdevices whereby the base, cornice, and midrail are connected firmly tothe column.

The strips of which the posts are made are preferably, of rectangularhorizontal cross section, and are preferably attached together with theflat sides of the strips disposed at right angles to the plane of thewall which is being constructed. In other words the flats or flat sidesof these strips are at right angles to the planes of the panels whichassist in forming the wall.

The intermediate posts or pilasters 21 are made in the same manner asthe corner post, but are made rectangular in form instead of L-shaped,and without the opening 32 for electric wires. The lateral edges of theintermediate posts have grooves 37 therein and also the slotted plates38.

The base unit 23, cornice unit 24, and mid-rail unit 26, are each madeof a pinrality of narrow horizontal strips 50. secured together in thesame manner as the strips of the posts or pilasters, and covered ontheir outer faces with laminated veneering. The ends of these severalmembers are provided with tongues 40 which fit closely within thegrooves 37 of the post, and to render these joints sound proof the outeredges of the tongues are covered with felt 41, or like material. Screwedto the bottom of the base unit 23 are two or more metal socket pieces 42to receive dowel pins 43, which project upwardly from the fioor.

Screwed to the outer faces of the tongues 40 plate and tends to draw therail into close abutment with the post. The top of the base unit isgrooved at 46 in 'a manner similar to the groove 37 in the edges of theposts,

and provided with two or more dowel pins 47, which project up fromplates screwed in the bottom of the grooves.

The cornice unit 24, made as described, of horizontal strips andlaminated veneering is also provided with a spreading molding 48 at itsupper edge similar to the capital molding on the posts or pilasters, andis finished by horizontal strips 49, as shown, to cover the gaps betweenthe upper edge of the molding and the horizontal strips of which thecornice is built. A small molding may be provided on the sides of thecornice at its lower edge. This, however, is a detail of ornamentation,which may be omitted, changed, or arranged in any manner in conformitywith the taste of the builder. In the bottom of the cornice is made agroove 51 to receive a tongue on the sash or panel as the case may be.Screwed to the bottom of the groove are two or more plates 51 havingholes therein for dowel pins on the panel or sash. The ends of thecornice are formed with tongues 52 similar to the tongues on the ends'ofthe base unit, and screwed to these tongues are plates 44 with key-hooks45 whereby the cornice unit is attached to the slotted plates 38 at thetop of the columns.

Mid-rail unit 26 made of horizontal strips of laminated veneering, asshown, has a groove in its upper and lower edges, inthe bottom of whichgrooves are screwed plates provided with dowel pins to engage a tongueprojecting from the sash unit, and the upper edge of the lower panelunit. The ends of the mid-rail section are provided with tongues andkey-hook plates, as described in connection with the base and corniceunits, and for the same purpose.

The panel unit 25 is of a rectangular form having a built-up interiorand covered on both faces with laminated veneering 55. The innerstructure of the panel is of cellular or honey-comb construction, and ismade, as shown in Fig. 11, by a number of strips 56 extendingtransversely of the panel and spaced apart, between which stri s areplaced blocks 57 separated from eac other to form cells 58 that provideair cushions between the two laminated panels and tend to prevent thepassage of sound. Each strip 56 and block 57 has a dove-tailed groove 60in one edge and a dove-tailed tongue 61 on its opposite edge, so thatsaid parts when connected by these grooves and tongues form a strongrigid connection, which will not twist nor warp. The thickness of thepanel 25 is just sufficient to enter neatly the grooves in the posts orpilasters, the base unit and the mid-rail unit, the outer edges of saidpanel unit being covered with felt or like material in the same manneras the tongues on the other units, so as to secure a dust-proof andsound-proof joint.

The sash unit 27 is preferably made double, an outer member 62 and aninner member 63 forming the combined sash. The

outer member '62 is fixed in place within a frame 64, arib 65 on theinner surface of said frame engaging a groove 66 in the edge of theouter member, the frame 64 is of the same width as the tongues of theseveral members heretofore mentioned, and enters the grooves in theposts, cornice, and midrail. Dowel pins are'secured on the top of theframe 64 to enter suitable holes in the cornice formed at the bottom ofthe oove in the lower edge thereof. Felt packing 67 is placed on theouter edge of the tongue of the frame to make the oints between the sashand the other units dust and sound proof. The inner sash member '63 ofthe sash has dowel pins 68 on its under side and a sliding pin 69 on itsupper member operated by a thumb button 70 for engaging and disengagingsaid pin 69 with respect to the frame 64 when it is desired to removethe inner member from the frame.

The door unit 28 presents the same external appearance as an ordinarypanel door, the frame of which is built up of vertical and horizontalstrips similar to the posts, base and cornice, and covered externallywith laminated veneering, as clearly represented in Fig. 8. The door isprovided with a panel 72 and a sash 73, the former being made ofcellular construction in the same manner as the panel unit 25 and thesash made double like the sash 27. On each side of the door, and at thetop is the door frame 29, from which project tongues 71 to enter groovesin the post or pilasters and in the under edge of the cornice, suitabledowel pins being provided on the tongue at the top of the frame to enterholes in the cornice, as shown.

The several unit members of this partition or wall construction are allmade to ing frame so that it ma standard sizes, like units having thesame dimensions, and being interchangeable one with the other, so thatno skill will be resition on the several units, and when fittedtogetherhold the parts withall the rigidity of a solid structure. Loosefastening devices such as nails, screws, and the like, are entirelyunnecessary in erecting the partitions, division walls booths, or anyother structure for which this invention may be used. If it is desiredat any time to enlarge or diminish a wall, booth or room the same may bedone by adding to or removing from the structure one or more posts andanel members until the proper size desire has been reached.

When it is desired to fully inclose a space surrounded by a partitionconstructed as described, as for instance to place a top or ceiling overa booth or room, encircling strips of wood or narrow boards 75 areplaced around the four sides of the booth or room at the top, and aresupported by the projecting inner cornice molding, as shown in Fig. 6.These strips 75 have a projecting ledge 77 on their inner edges tosupport lon tudinal cross members or beams 76, ti e ends of which arestepped to rest on the ledges 77 of the strips 75. The stri s or beams76 have also projecting ledges 8 on which rest short bars 79 extendingbetween the beams 76 and the surrounding members 75, so as to divide itup into a series of rectangular spaces SO, which are filled by panels orsashes as may be desired. To obtain ventilation, one or more of theanels or sashes in the ceiling will be hinged to its supportbe raised,as in dotted lines, in Fig. 11. ny suitable means may be employed forsecuring the ceiling members upon the cornice units, or if desired theseseveral members may .be placed in position without fastening means, theseveral parts fitting snugl in place will not require to be fastened. 5nthe upper side of the encircling strips 75 and the cross beams 76 areformed grooves 81 in which may be placed electric wires. Holes 82 arebored through said strips or beams through any one or more of which thewires may pass into the room or booth below.

What I claim is 1. A unit partition or Wall structure comprising, incombination, a pair of posts having longitudinally extending groovesformed in their confronting faces, a pair of rails, locking members forthe rails, locking members on the posts cooperating with the lockingmembers for the rails and adapted to receive the latter when such railsare moved longitudinally for this purpose, the cooperatmg lockingmembers being adapted to interlock by the lateral movement of the railsand to draw the posts and rails toward each other and the ends of therails into relatively close contact with the posts, and a panel havingvertical side edges seated in the grooves of the posts and havinhorizontal edges seated in grooves forme in the rails, the width of thepanel being substantially equal to the length of the rails plus thedepth of the grooves in the posts when the panel is assembled in theposts, so that such panel is clamped between the posts and the rails tosubstantially exclude the transmission of sound. a

2. A unit partition or wall structure comprising, in combination, a pairof posts having longitudinally extending grooves formed in theirconfronting faces, a pair of rails having grooves formed in theirconfronting edges, a panel having vertical side edges seated in thegroovesof the posts and having horizonta edges seated in the grooves ofthe rails, the width of the panel being substantially equal .to thelength of the rails plus the depth of the grooves in the posts when thepanel is assembled in the posts, and cooperating locking membersengageable by motion in two directions at an angle to each other andadapted when moved into interlocking engagement to draw the posts andthe rails with the panel toward each other and into relatively closecontact, the construction being such that the panel is tightly clampedbetween the posts and the rails to substantially exclude thetransmission of sound.

3. A unit partition or wall structure comprising in combination a. pairof posts, a

pair of rails, connecting means at the ends terlockin means adapted tointerlock by the said ateral movement of the rails toward the panel.

4. A unit partition or wall structure, comprising, in combination,corner posts formed of longitudinal strips connected together and havinglongitudinal grooves in their ad jacent faces, the bottoms of saidgrooves having slotted plates mounted therein, a base rail adapted tolie upon the floor and having hooks adapted to be received in certain ofsaid plates for holding said base rail between said posts, said baserail having a roove in the upper face thereof, a mid-rail parallel withsaid base rail having grooves respectively in its lower and upper facesand having hooks engaging certain of said slotted plates of said posts,a cornice rail having a groove in its under side and having hooks at theendsthereof engaging others of the said slotted plates, and panelsbetween said rails and said posts having their edges received in thesaid grooves of said rails and said posts.

5. A unit partition or wall structure, comprising, in combination,corner posts formed of longitudinal strips connected together and havinglongitudinal grooves in their adjacent faces, the bottoms of saidgrooves having slotted plates mounted therein, a base rail adapted tolie upon the floor and having hooks adapted to be received in certain ofsaid plates for holding said base rail .between said posts, said baserail having a groove in the upper face thereof, a mid-rail parallel withsaid base rail having grooves respectively in its lower and upper facesand having hooks engaging certain of said slotted plates of said posts,a cornice rail having a groove in its under side and having hooks at theends thereof engaging others of said slotted plates, and panels betweensaid rails and said posts having their edges received in the said roovesof said rails and said posts, the ends of said rails having tonguesfitting to said grooves of said posts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

RAYBURN CLARK SMITH. Witnesses:

W. NELsoN L. WEST, FRED GREEN.

